The global economy “will suffer in a massive way” of the rates of Donald Trump, warns Ursula von der Leyen – Europe Live | World news

Morning opening: a broken stick

Jakub Krupa
President of the European Commission Ursula von der leyen This morning he warned that the global economy “will suffer massively” due to the rates imposed by the President of the United States Donald Trump Last night, as he said that the EU was “prepared to answer”.
Despite Trump’s direct attack on “pathetic” The EU, as rates of 20% on the blockade, von der Leyen has still expressed hope that the report could “go from the clash to the negotiation”, since he warned “there seems to be no order in the disorder”.
But it was not immediately obvious that there was a real perspective that this happened.
Instead, the EU and individual Member States are now trying to consider how to manage the situation.
French president Emmanuel Macron He convened an emergency meeting with the sectors affected by the Trump rates this afternoon.
German economic daily Handelsblatt New estimates published this morning that US rates – including 25% on cars imports – could cost German car manufacturers BMW, Mercedes AND Volkswagen Up to € 11 billion since Germany is the largest EU car exporter in the United States. For the perspective, it is just under a third of the total value of German car exports to the United States to 36.8 billion euros.
But the concern does not only concern the immediate impact, but the longest consequences of the decision of last night.
Giving himself directly to the Europeans, Von der Leyen said “I know that many of you feel disappointed by our oldest ally”, while he underlined the need to think about what is others.
Or how Moritz SchularickPresident of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Put it in Handelsblatt:
“There is this memorable image of a stick that you can bend and that comes back again and again. But at some point, if you fold too much, the stick breaks.
I believe that in terms of trust in the United States, something is broken in the last few weeks that it will not return so quickly. “
His Thursday 3 April 2025his Jakub Krupa Here, and this is Europe lives.
Good morning. Fix the seat belts, it will be lively.
Key events
Norway worried about “very serious” rates, he hopes to keep further interviews with us, says the prime minister
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre He expressed alarm for “bad news” on the US rates that warn to be “very serious”, with Norway affected by a 15% sampling on its imported goods in the United States.
But Støre told the public broadcaster NRK that “there is an opening for the negotiations here, the Americans say, and we will use it in every possible way”, reported Reuters.
Støre also said he would travel to Brussels on Monday to meet high EU officials, including the president of the European Commission Ursula von der leyen to discuss further steps.
The salient points of the United Kingdom Prime Minister need “fantastic and calm heads” after Trump rates
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer He told the corporate leaders that “clearly there will be an economic impact” Donald Trump Rates, while insisted that the government would react with “hot and calm heads”, reported the EP’s news agency.
He said “nothing is out of the table” when it comes to the UK response.
Starmer said that the government will now focus on “guided only by our national interest” decisions and “putting money in the workers’ pockets”, while he underlined “one of the great strengths of this nation is our ability to maintain a fresh head”.
Here are some further quotes by Starmer, via PA:
“Today marks a new phase in our preparation. We have a series of levers at our disposal and we will continue our work with companies from all over the country to discuss their evaluation of the options.”
“Our intention remains to guarantee an agreement, but nothing is out of the table.”
“We have to face this challenge and that’s why I commissioned my team to move more and more about the changes that I believe will make our economy stronger and more resilient”.
“Since this government will do everything you need to defend the national interest of the United Kingdom, everything you need to provide the foundations of the safety that workers need to move forward with their lives”.
“This is how we recited and as we will continue to act: with pragmatism, fresh and calm heads, focused on our national security.”
Our political publisher, Pippa Crerara, He observed that Downing Street, which expected that a 20% rate was imposed in the United Kingdom, expressed relief to be escaped the highest rate with lower tariffs by 10%.
The most conciliatory approach of Keir Starmer to the Trump Administration it seemed to have made its fruitshe said.
European reactions to Trump rates – Rungava
President of the European Commission Ursula von der leyen warned of “terrible consequences” for millions of people, as the rates said “would damage consumers all over the world”.
He said that “there was not a clear path through the complexity and chaos that are created since all US commercial partners are affected”, but insisted on the fact that the unit of the EU “is our strength” and the block would be ready to respond with calibrated countermeasures.
Minister of the German Economy Robert Habeck He underlined the need for a united EU response, stating that the blockade should take advantage of the fact that it has the largest unique market in the world.
“The strength of Europe is our strength,” he said, adding that he hoped for “a negotiated solution”.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called The introduction of the US tariffs “wrong” while swearing to “do everything possible to work for an agreement with the United States, with the aim of avoiding a commercial war that would inevitably have weakened the West in favor of other global actors”.
“In any case, as always, we will act in the interest of Italy and its economy, also discussing with other European partners,” he added.
Swedish prime minister ULF Kristersson he said “It was deeply repentant” of the decision of the United States, saying “we do not want growing commercial barriers” while praising the benefits of free trade.
But he said that the government was ready to respond and work with the EU to “seize every opportunity to reverse these developments”.
“We want to find the way for the path of trade and cooperation together with the United States,” he underlined.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin he said The rates “do not benefit from anyone”, since he warned that they are “bad for the world economy, they have damaged people (e) businesses”.
“My priority, and that of the government, is to protect Irish jobs and the Irish economy and we will work with our companies … to navigate in the period to come,” he said.
He said he would work with EU partners to “get a negotiation with the United States to limit the damage”.
Martin also highlighted “the added value and strength that Ireland has given to so many US companies” based there.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk published A short update On social media, saying: “Friendship means partnership. The partnership means truly and truly mutual rates. Adequate decisions are needed.”
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo he said The tariff decisions were “worrying”, since he warned “there are no winners in a commercial war”.
“Companies, consumers and economic growth suffer. The EU is ready to respond and negotiate. We support this effort. Finland is prepared as part of the union,” he said.
Morning opening: a broken stick

Jakub Krupa
President of the European Commission Ursula von der leyen This morning he warned that the global economy “will suffer massively” due to the rates imposed by the President of the United States Donald Trump Last night, as he said that the EU was “prepared to answer”.
Despite Trump’s direct attack on “pathetic” The EU, as rates of 20% on the blockade, von der Leyen has still expressed hope that the report could “go from the clash to the negotiation”, since he warned “there seems to be no order in the disorder”.
But it was not immediately obvious that there was a real perspective that this happened.
Instead, the EU and individual Member States are now trying to consider how to manage the situation.
French president Emmanuel Macron He convened an emergency meeting with the sectors affected by the Trump rates this afternoon.
German economic daily Handelsblatt New estimates published this morning that US rates – including 25% on cars imports – could cost German car manufacturers BMW, Mercedes AND Volkswagen Up to € 11 billion since Germany is the largest EU car exporter in the United States. For the perspective, it is just under a third of the total value of German car exports to the United States to 36.8 billion euros.
But the concern does not only concern the immediate impact, but the longest consequences of the decision of last night.
Giving himself directly to the Europeans, Von der Leyen said “I know that many of you feel disappointed by our oldest ally”, while he underlined the need to think about what is others.
Or how Moritz SchularickPresident of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Put it in Handelsblatt:
“There is this memorable image of a stick that you can bend and that comes back again and again. But at some point, if you fold too much, the stick breaks.
I believe that in terms of trust in the United States, something is broken in the last few weeks that it will not return so quickly. “
His Thursday 3 April 2025his Jakub Krupa Here, and this is Europe lives.
Good morning. Fix the seat belts, it will be lively.